Shaun Bartlett believes Iqraam Rayners will be crucial for Bafana Bafana’s success at the Fifa World Cup, where the expanded format offers them their best chance to advance beyond the group stage. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
South Africa Afcon 1996 legend Shaun Bartlett believes that Iqraam Rayners will lead the Bafana Bafana strike force at the Fifa World Cup starting next month.
Before they’ve even kicked a ball at the FIFA World Cup, this will be the best chance Bafana Bafana have ever had of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time.
That’s a fact, and it has nothing to do with the ability of the team itself. The expanded format of this year’s Fifa World Cup will be particularly kind to those sides that are unable to stand out right from the start.
As usual, the top two teams from the 12 groups will advance to the next round. However, for the first time, the eight best third-placed sides will also advance.
